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USA TODAY

Erik Brady, @ByErikBrady, USA TODAY Sports

Presidential delegations to Olympics and Paralympics do not normally make much news. They are usually thought of as diplomatic niceties with a dollop of junket on top.

This year is different. The USA will not send a presidential delegation to the Paralympic Winter Games that begin Friday in Sochi, a reaction to host Russia's military action in nearby Ukraine. That decision comes on the heels of a presidential delegation to the Winter Olympics last month that included three openly gay former athletes, a direct shot at Russia's anti-gay legislation that was a flashpoint for controversy before and during the Games.

"In addition to other measures we are taking in response to the situation in Ukraine, the United States will no longer send a Presidential Delegation to the upcoming Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi," White House National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said in a statement Monday. "President Obama continues to strongly support all of the U.S. athletes who will participate in the Paralympics and wishes them great success."

The Games run through March16 in the same areas as last month's Winter Olympics.

Patrick Sandusky, chief communications and public affairs officer of the U.S. Olympic Committee, said in a statement: "We encourage all Americans to support our athletes by watching them compete on NBC, NBCSN and on TeamUSA.Org. As a sports organization, we will continue to fully support the amazing men and women that comprise Team USA at the Paralympic Winter Games."

The delegation, which was announced Feb.7, was to be led by Rep. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill. Other members: Kathy Martinez, Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor; Celeste A. Wallander, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director, Russia and Central Asia, National Security Council Staff; Anthony Robles, member of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition; Sandra Dukat, U.S. three-time Paralympian bronze medalist; and Brian Mosteller, Director, Oval Office Operations, The White House.

The delegation to last month's Winter Games in Sochi did not include a president, first lady or vice president, all of whom headed the previous four Olympic delegations, or a cabinet secretary, only a former one. Obama selected three openly gay former athletes -- tennis player Billie Jean King, figure skater Brian Boitano and hockey player Caitlin Cahow -- as part of that party.

A soccer match in South Africa turned deadly over the weekend after a stampede ensued while fans were entering the 87,000-seat FNB stadium in Johannesburg.

The match between the Orlando Pirates and the Kaizer Chiefs was eventually played but not before two people died and 17 people were injured, one critically, when people pushed their way through stadium gates.

Public safety official Michael Sun tweeted sympathies over the fatalities and noted that all the gates to the stadium were open to ensure crowd safety.

ABC News reported that the disruption that caused the crush was the result of people selling fake tickets outside the stadium.

@blacklabelsa CUP STATEMENT: We are saddened by the fatalities this afternoon due to a number of people attempting to push through the gates

The BBC reports that the Pirates and Chiefs are no strangers to these kinds of accidents. In April of 2001, the two teams saw 43 fans die in a crush during a match at Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg. Ten years prior, 42 people died in a stampede between the same two teams at Oppenheimer Stadium in the city of Orkney.

Formerly called Soccer City Stadium, FNB Stadium has a long history. Nelson Mandela gave his famous speech there after being released from prison in 1990. The venue was later rebuilt for the 2010 World Cup and was the site of the final that year between Spain and the Netherlands.

The emotional zeal that grips fans is a hallmark of sports culture, driving both high-energy celebrations and violent altercations — and everything in between. Fan behavior has always been a top issue for sports security professionals, but as the sports environment has evolved, it's been joined by a host of other threats. The events of 9/11 proved a wakeup call across the country, prompting individual sports venues to take a closer look at their security policies and driving league- and organization-wide reforms.